“Closed off and bitter. You seemed so happy in that photo.”
And then . . . there was the blue note. That was what I wanted to say.
I had just dug myself into a deeper hole.
His eyes darkened, and this wasn’t boding well for me.
“You’re crossing a very dangerous line, Charlotte.”
Despite his harsh words, I somehow thought if maybe I shared the fact that I could relate to getting my heart broken, that maybe he’d open up a little.
“I . . . I don’t know what happened with you and her . . . but I understand what it’s like to be hurt by someone you cared about—or thought you cared about. Maybe if you talk about it, you can let out some of the anger.”
His voice echoed through the long hallway. “The only person making me angry is you. You’ve been nothing but trouble from the moment you weaseled your way into my life.”
He shut his eyes as if he immediately regretted the harshness of his words. But it was too late. The damage was done. Even though I felt ashamed for putting him on the spot like that, his continuing to insult me was not acceptable. I wasn’t going to sit around and take it tonight. Shit, I wasn’t even on the clock anymore.
Screw this.
“I’m done being spoken to that way. I’m out of your hair for the rest of the evening. We can meet for the continental breakfast in the morning. Starts at seven a.m. It’s free . . . not that you care.”
I could feel tears forming in my eyes, but I fought them. I refused to let him see how upset his words made me.
Reed walked a little way down the hall to his room. He stood in front of his door, watching me as I kept unsuccessfully scanning my room card. A red error light repeatedly flashed.
Are you kidding me right now? Way to make a swift exit from this scene.
Footsteps approached me. Humiliated, I refused to look at him. He took the keycard from me, and the brief touch of his hand didn’t go unnoticed. The door beeped, flashing a green light as he opened it.
Of course he was able to get it on the first try.
I still wouldn’t look at him as I whispered, “Thank you.”
He started to walk away when I stopped him. “Wait.”
I’d bought three packages of Twizzlers. Taking an unopened one out of the Walmart bag, I handed it to him before disappearing inside and shutting the door.CHAPTER 10
REED
My thoughts were racing in the shower as the water poured down on me. No amount of hotel soap could wash away how shitty I felt.
Then she had to go and hand me those damn Twizzlers, making me feel like an even bigger asshole.
Who does that?
Who gives candy to someone who just treated them like a piece of shit?
Charlotte Darling does. Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, spirited, blindingly optimistic Charlotte Darling. And I’d done nothing but try to dampen her spirits from the moment we’d met to ensure that none of her fucking sparkle rubbed off on me.
Her bringing up Allison forced me to put up my guard worse than ever. Because the only truthful answer to her question about what happened would have required me opening up to her. Only immediate family knew the truth about what had gone down between my former fiancée and me. I needed to keep it that way.
I’d honestly forgotten I even had that photo stashed away in my wallet. But I understood how it must have made me look—like a sentimental sap. Maybe I was one before Allison made me lose my faith in love. Charlotte must have figured my carrying the photo gave her a ticket to try to get me to spill my guts.
With a towel wrapped around my waist and my hair soaking wet, I lay back on the bed and pondered just falling asleep that way. But I hadn’t eaten anything besides that entire package of Twizzlers. I had to leave the room to get food. At least, that’s what I told myself. The real reason was that I couldn’t shake Charlotte from my mind. Maybe I’d sleep better tonight if I apologized for lashing out at her.
I put my clothes back on before venturing a few doors down to Charlotte’s room.
Taking a deep breath in, I knocked on her door a few times. Several seconds passed with no answer. I knocked again. Still no answer.
Well, without a car she couldn’t have gone very far. I took the elevator down to the lobby and peeked into the sports lounge, but there was no sign of Charlotte.
The only other restaurant within walking distance was a Ruby Tuesday. As I exited the front sliding doors of the Holiday Inn, drizzle hit my face. Raindrops glistened on the cars as I walked across the windy parking lot to the restaurant.